Invest in Rest – SummitLife Today: Monday, January 7, 2012
Stephen Covey gave us a great word picture in his “sharpening your saw” analogy. If you invest in rest at the right time, it will pay great dividends for a long time. A sharp saw cuts wood more efficiently than a dull saw. You are always sharper when you are well rested. It’s truly a good investment of your time. The best rest is the kind of rest that brings peace to your soul. Invest in Rest.
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. (Psalm 91:1-2 NLT)
Rest and trust go together. Worry is the enemy of rest because worry is the absence of trust. Leaders who worry never find time to rest because they live with the false belief that everything depends on them. They lead like they are rolling a rock up a hill with the fear that at any moment it could roll back to the bottom, going over them on the way. People who worry never truly rest. People who trust rest well. In the days of creation, God rested on the seventh day and set an example for us to take a day of rest. You have to trust that six days are enough and that a day of rest will benefit you more than an extra day of pushing the rock up the hill.
Rest has to be intentional. It is both a belief and a practice. We were created with the need for spiritual, physical and mental renewal and rest. If you don’t plan for rest and make time for it, the tyranny of the urgent will overtake you and rob you of rest. Lack of rest will negatively affect you spiritually, physically and mentally.
As a Christian leader, you need to set an example for those on your team about healthy rest. When you find healthy rest, you are renewed spiritually, physically and mentally. You are at your best after rest. You will make more mistakes and be less efficient when you are tired and worn down. Invest in rest!
Be sure to also keep a watch out for your team members in the area of rest. Days off and vacations are more than just an employee benefit. They will also benefit your organization since well rested team members are more positive and more productive. It’s wise to invest in their rest too.
Finally, take time today to plan for rest and renewal spiritually, physically and mentally. Anything this important is worth making a priority. You and your team will be at your best if you invest in rest. The payoff is well worth it.
New Strength – SummitLife Today: Friday, January 4, 2012
Have you ever felt like quitting? There are days in your life and leadership that you will come to the point where you feel like you’ve given all you can give. There is nothing left. It’s on those days that you experience the full weight of leadership, and it can feel overwhelming. Leaders are ultimately responsible in every circumstance and outcome…even when it’s not your fault. The captain goes down with the ship. As a leader, it’s always too soon to quit. You have to find the strength to take one more step or hang in there one more day…but where can you find the strength to keep going?
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NLT)
Hope is the fuel for endurance, and trust in the Lord brings hope. God’s strength is “New Strength” because He creates it in the moment we need it most. When your strength is gone, trust in the Lord to give you His fresh new strength to keep you going.
There is a huge difference between “sore” and “soar”. A lot of leaders are just “sore”. They have been wounded and beaten up to the point of having nothing left but resentment and hurt. You can’t lead if you’re “sore”. You have to rise above your circumstances and “soar”.
Eagles soar! A soaring eagle moves effortlessly on the wind currents that lift his wings. When we fully trust in the Lord, He promises to lift our wings and carry us on His strength. No flapping required. In fact, it’s our own flapping that got us into this situation in the first place. We tried to do it all in our own strength and wore ourselves out. As Christian leaders, trust in the Lord should be a daily practice. It makes no sense to only look for “New Strength” when we are on the last leg of our “Old Strength”. Why would you flap away in your own strength when you can soar effortlessly in His?
Take time today to confess your lack of strength to God and trust Him to give you His new strength. It is simply a matter of humility and faith. Even if you feel strong, your strength is no match for His strength. This is nothing more than a battle between pride and humility. Prideful leaders flap while humble leaders soar.
Finally, people love to watch eagles soar. It inspires them. Your team will be motivated and inspired to do more when they see you soar. Humbly ask the Lord to give you “New Strength” today, and trust Him to help you soar.
“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” ~ Helen Keller
Leading Yourself – SummitLife Today: Thursday, January 3, 2013
The hardest person for you to lead is yourself. When you lead other people, they are looking to you for direction. It’s a lot easier to give direction to others than to give direction to ourselves. Who gives you direction in your leadership? If you are not relentlessly intentional and disciplined about leading yourself well, you will wander in your leadership and get off course. It is usually obvious when someone you are leading heads in the wrong direction, but it is so much harder to see when you are the one beginning to stray. Ponder these truths and wisdom from Psalm 119 to gain insight on leading yourself well:
Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you. Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good. I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness. (Psalm 119:33-40 NLT)
These truths are like a compass for your leadership. God’s wisdom always points to true north. When someone gets lost in the woods, they usually end up walking in circles until they are either rescued or die. Without a compass to direct you, it’s almost impossible to stay on the right course.
Learn to lead yourself well. Leading yourself well is a prerequisite for leading others well. You can fake it for a season but your leadership influence will crumble like a house built on a poor foundation. Establishing a firm foundation is essential in building anything of significance. This is particularly true of leadership. Only leaders, who have a firm foundation and lead themselves well, will maximize their influence in the lives of others.
Today, as a Christian leader, be intentional about leading yourself well. Seek direction and wisdom from God through His word and through the advice of wise counselors. Do not neglect to lead yourself with discipline and conviction. How well you lead yourself today will determine where you can lead your team tomorrow.
Take time today to pause and evaluate how well you are leading yourself. If you have the courage, ask others you trust to give you feedback on how well they think you lead yourself. Leading yourself well today is the first step to leading yourself well tomorrow.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” ~ Dr. Seuss
Gaining proper perspective will always adjust an attitude. It’s easy to lose perspective and get caught up in the grind of just wanting to get a job done. Busyness, stress, team tension and the demands of a pending deadline can all cause us to lose perspective. If we get overwhelmed, we tend to start working with our heads down just trying to survive. We can very easily forget to look up and focus on the greater purpose of our work. Paul shared a valuable truth with his friends at Ephesus about how important it is to have the right perspective about your work.
Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. (Ephesians 6:7-8 NLT)
This is truly a compelling perspective! Everyone, “slave or free”, can work with this type of enthusiasm and purpose. It doesn’t matter what your social status is or how important you think you or your job may be; you can do your work in a way that honors the Lord. The bonus is the promise that is attached to this truth: “Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do”.
This principle goes the whole way back to what Paul was writing to these same friends in chapter two: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)
God made us to do His good work. When we do our work to His glory, we are doing His good work. How we approach our work is simply a matter of perspective. Having the proper perspective can be compelling and will change how we approach our work. God rewards the good work we do because it is part of His eternal plan and has a purpose bigger than ourselves or the business we are in. God is at work in and through our work.
As Christian leaders we need to first model and then clearly communicate to our teams this compelling truth about having the proper perspective in how we approach work. This can make a huge difference not only in the quality of your work but in your sense of fulfillment you find in your work. This is true not only for you as a leader, but also for each of your team members.
Teach this principle today and lead your team from the compelling perspective of doing their work for a greater purpose that pleases God.
“Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way.” ~ Les Brown
Leadership Yourself – SummitLife Today: Friday, December 28, 2012
There are three things that every organization or project needs for success: The right people, the right resources and the leadership capacity to grow. “Leadership Capacity” is all about having the influence, skills, knowledge and commitment to take something to the next level. Honest assessment of your capacity and resources is a good starting point. Having the right people on your team and your ability to influence them are essential elements in determining your leadership capacity. One is too small a number to do anything of great significance. You need other people to complete you in order for you to be at your best. This was one of the great lessons in the life and leadership of Moses as he led the nation of Israel out of Egypt.
These are the chosen leaders of the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel. So Moses and Aaron called together these chosen leaders, and they assembled the whole community of Israel on that very day…So the Israelites did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Numbers 1:16-18, 54 NLT)
All the right leaders for Moses’s team were available; he just had to be intentional about bringing them together and aligning them with God’s purpose. Always be on the lookout for men and women who influence others both inside and outside your organization. You want to identify them and make sure you are all moving in the same direction. If properly aligned and committed to your cause, these leaders can greatly increase your leadership capacity.
As a Christian leader, take note of the phrase “…did everything just as the Lord had commanded…” You can make big plans, but unless the Lord is in it – no matter how much you seem to accomplish – it will have limited lasting impact. Complete dependence on God is the key to connecting the right people, the right resources and increasing your capacity as a leader. If God calls you to do it, He will bring it to pass. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Only secure leaders enlist the help of others. Secure leaders are humble leaders. Pride will keep you from asking for help and ironically limit your leadership capacity. Prideful leaders want to claim all the credit and therefore never reach their full capacity as a leader. Their talent alone isn’t enough for them to accomplish the most. The first step in growing your leadership capacity is to be humble and ask for help. First ask for God’s help and seek His guidance to help you discern the leaders you need to recruit.
Grow your leadership capacity today by humbly asking God to connect you to the right people and the right resources to accomplish the work He has called you to do.
“What makes humility so desirable is the marvelous thing it does to us; it creates in us a capacity for the closest possible intimacy with God.” ~ Monica Baldwin
God’s Way – SummitLife Today: Thursday, December 27, 2012
God’s way of doing things is beyond limits. There is no “box” that can contain His options. As a Christian leader, don’t be surprised when God decides to bless you with His creative genius in solving a crisis in your life and leadership. As any father who loves to delight his children, God delights us with His goodness and faithfulness in ways that will cause us to praise and worship Him. There are times when all we can do is shake our head in amazement to how God makes His plan come alive in the most unusual and miraculous ways. In the life of Moses, he had many of these moments…but after all, his life started that way.
“Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him. Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.” (Exodus 2:9-10 NLT)
From crisis to blessing in one swoop! Moses’s mother feared for her newborn’s life one minute and then suddenly found herself hired to care for her own baby…with pay! God showed Himself in a special way to encourage and inspire this young mother about His sovereign plan for her infant son. He turned her “hopeless” crisis into joyful “hope”. God’s “delightful” provisions are all around us every day. Are you looking for them?
Moses was rescued from a death sentence and adopted into the family of the king. Without any merit on his part, he was promoted from certain death to an abundant life…and spiritually, so were you. If God did this for Moses, and provided not only salvation but a royal adoption for you, can you even begin to grasp the limitless potential God has to delight you in the most unusual ways?
Napoleon Bonaparte once said: “Leaders are dealers in hope.” This is particularly true of Christian leaders. However, you as a leader must have hope if you are going to “deal” hope to your team. Take time today to reflect on how God has delighted you with His goodness and creative blessings. If you are having trouble identifying them, simply ask God to reveal them to you. He will delight in that too.
Tell stories to your team and to the next generation of leaders about how God has delighted you with His blessings in your life. Mentor others today in seeking “God’s Way” when they faces challenges or opportunities in life.
“As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit.” ~ Emmanuel Teney
Legacy Lost – SummitLife Today: Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Leaders must learn to “live their legacy” if they plan to “leave a legacy”. Life has a lot of distractions and legacies often get lost. Some leaders lose their legacy through disqualification due to reckless behavior. Others lose their legacy because even though they started strong they didn’t stay with it and their influence faded. Most legacies are lost however in the generations to follow. They just simply forget about the legacy lived and it becomes a legacy lost. This happened even with the amazing legacy of Joseph.
In time, Joseph and all of his brothers died, ending that entire generation. But their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so greatly that they became extremely powerful and filled the land. Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. (Exodus 1:6-8 NLT)
Change is part of life. Nothing stays to same for long. Leaders must learn how to predict and navigate change both during their life and leadership, and beyond. Legacies that last are left by leaders who live legacies designed to survive change. Lasting legacies focus on the “who” and the “why” of life. Legacies that focus on the “where, what, when, and how” will be lost.
For a Christian leader, the “who” and the “why” are the eternal components of living a legacy that will last. Legacies last when they are based on “who” we are in Christ and “why” we serve Him with our lives. This “who” and “why” never change and they are not affected by change.
History has proven that “where, what, when and how” all change with time. They are vulnerable to progress and to new ways of thinking. Dominant world powers have changed every few hundred years. The “where” of world power has moved from Greece, to Rome to Great Brittan to America to just name a few. The “what” is constantly changing with technology while the question of “when” often seems to raise issues of uncertainty and stress. The “how” is always affected by advancement and the process of continual improvement.
Generations to come will change and most legacies will be lost unless they are intentionally built to last. Notice that the legacy of Joseph was lost when the new king new nothing about what “Joseph had done.” Even though Joseph had an amazing legacy, it was lost when the “who” and “why” were forgotten. The Jewish people ended up enduring four hundred years of captivity in Egypt before Moses was raised up by God to remind the people of the “who” and “why” of Joseph’s legacy. In fact, Moses took Joseph’s bones with them when they left Egypt to remind the Jews of God’s promise to them as a people.
Determine today to be intentional about living and leaving a lasting legacy.
“The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives.” ~ Billy Graham
Christmas – SummitLife Today: Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas is a time for making memories. Too often the hustle and bustle of the season consumes our thoughts and emotions. Let me encourage you to take time to pause and ponder. Capture precious memories as they occur and place them in your memory treasure chest. One of my favorite verses in the Christmas story is when young Mary paused just to try and absorb everything that had taken place in her life over the past 9 months. She had plenty of thoughts to treasure.
So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:16-19 NASB)
Mary was young, but she was wise. Her entire world had had been turned both upside down and inside out over the past nine months. It all started with a visit from an angel. Can you imagine the thoughts and emotions that must have been rushing through Mary’s mind? It is at this moment that she pauses to quietly reflect and ponder all that has taken place. She is replaying the memories of her life and especially the past year. In her memories, she is finding treasure…and lots of it!
What treasure might you find if you paused to ponder and reflect on God’s hand in your life? What has this past year held for you? Reflect on the good times and the not-so-good times and you will discover that there is treasure in both. I have a good friend whose wife was diagnosed with cancer. I remember them sharing that as they reflected back on that year, they would say the answer to what was the “best” and “worst” part of their year was the same: “the cancer”. Why? As they reflected on their experience, they saw God’s faithfulness, comfort and providential purpose through both the best days and worst days of the year. They discovered treasure in both.
Treasured thoughts are only discovered in quietness. Evaluated experiences in life are an invaluable resource for personal growth and development. You will find riches that are worth treasuring in every life experience. Often times the hidden treasure is only revealed in time.
One final thought: Mary was in a stable when this took place. It was stinky, noisy and people were coming from everywhere to see her baby. There was a lot to complain about. But Mary had an attitude of gratitude and when she paused to ponder she found treasure in her thoughts.
Take time today to pause, with gratitude, and discover treasured thoughts. Merry Christmas!
“Memory is the treasure house of the mind wherein the monuments thereof are kept and preserved.” ~ Thomas Fuller
Unshakeable Faith – SummitLife Today: Monday, December 24, 2012
Strong people of faith are admired most, not for how they’ve been blessed, but for how they’ve endured and even thrived in the midst of adversity. Others are drawn to those who live with an unshakeable faith. This is one of the most powerful platforms of influence as a leader. Anyone can proclaim their trust in God when things are going well. The true nature of our faith revealed when we are tested by the fires of life. People with unshakeable faith come out stronger on the other side. It’s a lot like tempering steel. One woman who is mentioned in the Christmas story is often overlooked, but she possessed unshakeable faith. Her name was Anna.
Anna, a prophet,…was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38 NLT)
What an amazing woman! Strong women leaders with unshakeable faith uniquely impact generations. Their combination of tenacity, intuition, nurture and wisdom are the perfect blend for gaining a platform of influence. When women with unshakeable faith speak, people listen. Mother Teresa is a modern day example of a strong leader with unshakeable faith.
Anna must have been a wonderful encouragement to Mary and Joseph. Their world had been turned upside down with the birth of Jesus. Then they met Simeon and Anna when Jesus was only eight days old. This 84 year old widow had spent her entire life praying for the Messiah to come without ever losing faith that He would someday arrive in Jerusalem. Her faith had been unshakeable. This was the day she had longed for. Jesus, the Messiah had come.
Can you imagine the excitement and emotion in her voice? Can you see the delight in her eyes as she looks at the baby Jesus? This was her moment of reward for a hard life lived well. She had come through the fire in years of fasting and prayer, trusting God for this day. She never gave up. When Anna spoke, her words carried a lot of weight because of her unshakeable faith in God.
As a Christian leader, your faith is public. Is it unshakeable? Take time today to examine the true nature of your faith and trust in God. Be honest, be humble. Ask God to give you what it takes to stand firm in unshakeable faith so that He will be glorified through your trust in Him.
“The finest steel has to go through the hottest fire.” ~ John N. Mitchell
Walking with God – SummitLife Today: Thursday, December 20, 2012
Walking with God is a step by step, moment by moment stroll. It is a matter of dependence. When my sons were little and learning to walk, they would hold onto my hand tightly. As they grew and became more independent however, they loosened their grip and then eventually let go. Only when they fell down would they call for me to help them get back up. I think I can tend to be like that in my walk with the Lord. When the Apostle John wrote about “walking in the light”, he refers to us as “little children”. Little children hold on tight with every step. In the Old Testament, Noah was a man who walked with God step by step in a dependent child-like faith.
The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil….It broke his heart…But Noah found favor with the Lord… Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. (from Genesis 6:5-9 NLT)
Note the phrase: “the only blameless person living on earth at the time”. Wow! The reason that could be said about Noah was because he was the only person who “walked in close fellowship with God.” Noah held tightly onto God’s hand with every step.
Walking requires balance. The question is: Do you get your sense of balance from God or do you get it on your own? When it comes to my sense of balance in walking with the Lord, I need to hold onto to Him. I don’t do well walking on my own. I stumble a lot, mostly under the load of over-commitment, misguided priorities and busyness.
Christian leaders set an example and set the pace for those who follow them. Your team is watching your walk. How are you doing? Is God setting your pace and providing balance for your life and leadership? Are you depending on Him with each step or have you pulled away to walk on your own?
My Grandfather loved to walk and I loved to walk with him. I have many rich memories of going on walks with him. He is also my example of a man who walked with God. I admired him for that. Who is your example of someone who walks with God? Would those on your team and in your family mention you as an example of someone who walks with God?
Let me encourage you today to examine your walk with the Lord. Determine to be dependent and hold on tight with each step. Having a close walk with the Lord is the most powerful way to impact the lives of others. Let your walk be your legacy.
“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
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